Do Not Draft These Running Backs

These are my do no draft backs so far this fantasy season. I strongly considered adding Darrell Henderson and Ron Jones, but Henderson was an extremely efficient college player, so he can still thrive behind Cam Akers, and Bruce Arians tends not to give his rookie backs a ton of touches(only 161 touches for David Johnson as a rookie), so Jones has a shot. Also, they’re both being drafted at far more reasonable ADPs than the following cast of characters:

Dalvin Cook, Vikings:

-There’s a very real chance he holds out for part or even all of the season

– He’s the backbone of the team, so he feels like he has leverage, maybe rightly so

-The Vikings have a more than capable backup in Alexander Mattison, so they may not be inclined to give in

-Cook has only played 14, 11 and 4 games over the past 3 seasons

-Current ADP higher than Alvin Kamara, Derrick Henry and Joe Mixon

Aaron Jones, Packers

-Expect A.J. Dillon, Jamaal Williams and Aaron Rodgers, who averages 50 carries a season, to eat into Jones’ touches

– The Packers ran 411 times in 2019. Between Williams, Dillon and Rodgers, they could take around 250 of those touches, which is still ok for Jones, but not considering where he’s being drafted

– Being drafted above guys like Kenyan Drake, Miles Sanders and Todd Gurley, all players with comparable upside and bigger shares of their backfields

Sony Michel, Patriots:

– Still recovering from foot surgery he had in May, could potentially start the season on the PUP list

– Time away from the team just opens the door wider for Damien Harris to work his way into the starting role

– Cam Newton under center makes the offense better, but he takes away potential goal line scores from Michel, who had 7 in 2019

– Being drafted in front of guys like Derrius Guice and Keshawn Vaughn – I like their upsides more

Marlon Mack, Colts:

– Second round pick Jonathan Taylor was our consensus no.1 running back coming into the draft; You don’t draft a back of his pedigree in the second round to sit him

– Taylor is a better between the tackles runner and Nyheim Hines a better pass catcher, making Mack’s role unsure

– Never ranked above 60th in pass protection (PFF) and that’s important to new QB Philip Rivers

– Being drafted above guys like Matt Breida and Tevin Coleman, both of whom I project to get more touches